Correlation between MTHFR gene methylation and pre-eclampsia, and its clinical significance

• Published in: Genetics and molecular research Vol. 14; no. 3; pp. 8021 - 8028
• Main Authors: Ge, J, Wang, J, Zhang, F, Diao, B, Song, Z F, Shan, L L, Wang, W, Cao, H J, Li, X Q
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil 17.07.2015
• Subjects: Adult; Case-Control Studies; DNA Methylation - genetics; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; Female; Folic Acid - blood; Homocysteine - blood; Humans; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) - genetics; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Pre-Eclampsia - blood; Pre-Eclampsia - enzymology; Pre-Eclampsia - genetics; Pregnancy; Vitamin B 12 - blood
• ISSN: 1676-5680; 1676-5680
• DOI: 10.4238/2015.July.17.10

We investigated the correlation between 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene methylation and pre-eclampsia, and its clinical significance, by comparing methylation in the MTHFR gene promoter of the placenta and peripheral venous blood in pre-eclampsia and normal gravidas. We enrolled 259 gravidas from the People's Liberation Army 202nd Hospital, China, between January 2011 and September 2011, including 127 pre-eclampsia and 132 nor-mal gravidas. Methylation levels of the MTHFR gene in placentas in two sets of gravidas were detected by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction, plasma homocysteine levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and folic acid and vitamin B12 levels were detected by electrochemiluminescence. The chi-square test results were analyzed using the SPSS19.0 statistical software. In placentas, the methylation indices were 26.8% (34/127) and 15.2% (20/132) in the pre-eclampsia and normal groups, respectively (χ(2) = 5.30, P < 0.05, odds ratio (OR) = 2.04, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.10-3.73). In peripheral venous blood, the methylation indices were 22.8% (29/127) and 12.1% (16/132) in pre-eclampsia and normal groups, respectively (χ(2) = 5.17, P < 0.05, OR = 2.15, 95%CI = 1.11-4.15). The plasma methylation level of the pre-eclampsia group was consistent with the normal group. The plasma homocysteine level in the pre-eclampsia group was higher than in the normal group (P < 0.05). Levels of folic acid and vitamin B12 in the pre-eclampsia and normal groups were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Patients with pre-eclampsia have hypermethylation in the MTHFR gene promoter, which may be one of its causes.